Coupon feeding mechanism



June 28, 1932. B.- R. SCHNEIDER ET AL 1,364,695

COUPON FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26,-1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MTTORNEYS.

June 28, 1932. B. R. SCHNEIDER ET AL 1,364,595

COUPON FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 26, 1929 4 SheetsSheet 2 VINVENTOR. (BERNARD lfiSGfl/YZ/JEA BY /f4/?/. #4052 A TTORNEYS.

June 28, 1932.

B. R. SCHNEIDER ET AL COUPON FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 26, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNEYS.

June 28, 1932. a. R. SCHNEIDER ET AL COUPON FEEDING MECHANISM 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 26, 1929 Patented June 28, 1932 I UNITEDSTATES BER-NARI) R. SCHNEIDER, 0F LYNDHURST, NEW' JERSEY, AI) 'K'ARLKAISER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOIRS, BSFMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THEAMERIGAN'TOBACCO COMPANY; OF NEW YGRK, N. Y., A GORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY I COUPON FEEDING MECHANISM Application filed November 26, 1929.Serial No. 409,868. I

If the salesman is relied upon to include I a coupon or circular witheach cigar, he will frequently fail to do so, for it is some additionaltrouble to pick up the coupon or the like, and pass it out with thecigar.

Furthermore, the purchaser will often leave the coupon or the like,lying on the counter, or if he picks it up with the cigar,

he is liable to throw it away without further notice.

For this reason it is desirable that the coupon or other matter,bepackaged with the cigar, so that reliance need not be placed upon thesalesman to include such matter with the purchase.

.With this object in view, it has been proposed, since cigars areusually banded, to insert the coupon within the band, between it and thecigar, in order that it will form a single package with the cigar, andalways be included with a sale.

The coupon or the like, is usually folded, and it is desirable that itbe placed in a pos1 tion such that it will not interfere with theappearance of the cigars when it is positioned, that is, that it be onthe underside of the cigar, beneath the connected ends of the band,where in addition to being hidden when the cigar is positioned, it is inconvenient position to assist in the removal of the band.

One, of the prmary objects of the present invention is the provision ofan attachment for handing machines, which automatically attaches a bandto the cigar, designed to be operated by the machine, and in synchronismtherewith, for feeding afolded paper, as for instance, a coupon,-intoposition such that the coupon may beenclosedwith the cigar by the band.

Another object is out change 'ingthe operation thereof, and

' without material change in the machine. Another object istheprovision' of an attachment including feedingmeans arranged to movebetween a magazine for coupons and the banding mechanism, and toward andfrom the magazine and the banding mechanism respectively, thereby topositively place the provision of an at tachment of a character suchthat it may be applied to existing banding machines, witha folded couponbeneath the plunger of the banding mechanism, and adjacent to the tripfor said mechanism. 7

, Another object is the provision in such an attachment of normallyoperative means to grasp one end of the folded coupon as it is releasedby the feeding mechanism, thereby to retain the coupon in properposition. Another object is the provision in connection with thenormally operative grasping of means to positively open the same for theinsertion of a coupon end by the feeding mechanism, operated insynchronism with the feeding mechanism.

Another object is the provision of grasping means of a nature such that,and so arranged, that it will grasp that end of the folded coupon overwhich the cigar moves to engage the trip, and will hold said end againstdisplacement by the cigar, and below the level of the wrapper, therebyto avoid injury to the same.

Another object is the provision of a normally operative grasping means,of a nature such that'it will yield torelease the end of the coupon,when the cigar is pressed down thereon by the banding mechanism.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter,illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope ofthe claims,.may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a front view of theimproved machine.

Fig. 1a is a detail in section of the valve.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 33 and 44 respectively, of Fig.1.

Fig. 5 is a detail in section showing the operation of the clampingfinger.

Fig. 6 is a detail in front elevation of a part of the bandingmechanism.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of another part of said mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a cross section of the completed article.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the same.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with abanding ma chine of the general type shown and described in Patent No.1,261,832, granted April 9th, 1918. I

The banding machine includes a suitable frame 1, upon which is supporteda table 2, and the coupon feeding attachment is adapted to be attachedto the machine frame at the front thereof. The band. applying mechanismindicated generally at 3, which forms no part of the present invention,is supported by a reciprocating hollow rod 5, for movement toward andfrom the table. The rod is an air conduit and is connected to achanneled plunger 6, forming a part of the band applying mechanism, by aflexible hose 7. The plunger 6 is a pneumatic feeder for the bands,being connected to suitable exhausting apparatus by the elements 5 and7.

The plunger 6 takes the bands from a magazine, indicated generally at 8,and ap plies them to the cigar 9, laid upon the table directly beneaththe head 10 of the plunger. The cigars are placed on the table at A, atthe left of the banding mechanism, and are fed successively into theposition B. In this position, the cigar is beneath the plunger 6, andthe tuck end of the cigar is pushed into contact with a stop or head 12,which is fixed to a rod 12 operatively connected to the starting andstopping mechanism of the machine as shown in Patent 1,261,832, to causethe banding mechanism to apply a band 13 to the cigar, in the mannershown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The banding mechanism consists of flexible bands, which run over thefree ends of angle levers 14 pivoted to the plunger 6 at each sidethereof. These levers are caused to swing by mechanism forming no partof the present invention, after the head with the band has descendedupon the cigar, and the ends of the band are tucked beneath the cigarand pressed together as shown in Fig. 7 a suitable adhesive medium firsthaving been applied to one end of the band. A pad 15a mounted onsuitable operating mechanism 15 is pressed into contact with the lappedends of the band by means of fingers 16, resting on the cigar. Since thebanding mechanism forms no part of the present invention, it is notfurther described.

The improved feeding attachment comprises a magazine 17, for the foldedcoupons, which are twice folded by the coupon folding machine formingthe subject matter of our copending application Serial No. 401,542,filed on October 22nd, 1929. The magazine has a lateral arm 18, which issecured't-o a bracket 19 detachably connected with the frame 1 of thebanding machine.

The connection between the arm 18 and the bracket is a bolt and nut 20,which enables the angle of the magazine with respect to the vertical tobe adjusted. The magazine is composed of two channeled members facingeach other, as shown in Fig. 4. At its lower end each of the end wallsof the magazine has an inwardly extending lug 21, upon which the ends ofthe lowermost wrapper in the magazine rest. These lugs support thecoupons in the magazine, but permit the lowermost one to be withdrawnwhen the feeding mechanism to be described, engages the central portionthereof. A follower 22 rests upon thestack in the magazine, the bottomof the follower being convex to similarly shape the stack of labels.

The coupons are withdrawn from the magazine one by one, the lowermostfirst, by feeding mechanism composed of a pair of sucker heads 25,mounted on hollow rods 26, held in the free end of an arm 27, to bepresently described, and connected at their lower ends with a header 28,which in turn is connected to a valve casing 29 by a flexible hose 30.

The arm 27 is pivoted near its outer end to the upper end of a follower31, which at its lower end is pivoted to the frame of the machine, asindicated at 32. A lever 33 is mounted on the pivotal connection 32, andthe outer end of the lever 33 is connected to the outer end of the arm27 by a sectional link 34, having a turn buckle to enable the overalllength of the link to be varied.

The inner end of the lever 33 is provide with a roller running on theedge of a cam 35, secured to a shaft 36, which is a part of the bandingmachine and is operated by a clutch subject to the action of thestarting and stop ping mechanism associated therewith and with the rodrod 12, so that the cam 35 will operate simultaneously with theoperation of the banding mechanism. A second cam 37 is secured to theshaft, and this cam engages a roller on the link 31 before mentioned. Aspring 38 is arranged between the link 31 near its upper end and theframe, and a spring 39 is arranged between the link 34 at its upper end,and the frame, the spring inclining downwardly toward its connectionwith the frame. The springs act normally to hold the rollers in closecontact with the cams 3537.

The arrangement of these parts is such that the sucker heads are firstmoved to the right of Fig. 1, by means of the cam 37. The heads arethenmoved upwardly toward the magazine 17 to engage the lowermostcoupon, by means of the cam 35, or rather by means of the spring 39,which holds the roller of lever 33 close to the low part of the cam 35.The sucker heads are then moved downward- 1y with a coupon, when-theroller of lever 33 passes onto the high part of the cam 35. The suckerheads are then moved to the left of Fig. 1, when the roller of link 31passes. onto the low part of cam 37 ,and upwardly to deliver the coupon,when the high part of the cam 35 engages the roller of lever 33. Thatis, right and left movements of the feeding mechanism are caused by thecam 37 and up and down movements by the cam 35. e

The valve 40 in the casing 29' is operated in synchronism with themovement of the feeding mechanism, by means of a cam 41, on a cam shaft42, arranged at right angles to the shaft 36, and connected therewithmiter gearing 43. The valve has a roller 44 at its lower end which bearsagainst the cam edge, the cam moving the valve upward, and a spring 45moves the valve downward. As shown in Figs. 1 and 1a, the plunger has akey 46, engaging a slot 47 in'the valve casing to prevent angularmovement of the valve, and it has an angular passage 40a for connectingthe hose 30, with a hose 48 connected with suitable exhaustingapparatus.

The valve and the feeding mechanism are so synchronized, that when thesucker heads engage the lowermost coupon in the magazine, they will beconnected with the exhausting apparatus, and the connection will bemaintained until the coupon is moved into position beneath the plunger6. The outer end of the shaft 36 is supported by a bearing bracket 49,

and the shaft 42 is supported by bearings 50 and 5.1, all of thebearings 49, 50 and 51 being detachably connected with the frame 1.

When the coupon is deposited upon the table in position before the tripstop 12, one end is arranged beneath a clamping finger 52 pivoted at itsfront end to a slide 53. The slide 53 is slidable in guides 54 and 55 onthe table. One of the guides has a groove with parallel side walls, asshown in Fig. .1, while the other guide has a groove with diverging sidewalls, and the side edges of the slide are correspondingly shaped. Theslide is reciprocated by means of a pinion 56 secured to a shaft 57supported in a bearing bracket 58 detachably connected with the frame,and the slide has rack teeth 59 on its underside for engagement by thepinion.

, The shaft 57 is oscillated by means of a toothed sector 60, which ispivoted at 61 to the bearing bracket 51 before mentioned. The sector hasa roller 62, which runs against the edge of a cam 63 on the shaft 42'before mentioned. The finger 52 is normally pressed toward the slide bymeans of a plate spring 64 secured to the slide at one end and bearingonthe finger at the other. The free end of the finger at its underside isbeveled, as shown in Fig.4, and cooperates with a similarly beveledsurface 65 on the slide.

The coupons 66 are withdrawn from the magazine oneby one by the feedingmechanism, while the slide is moving into retracted position. It will benoticed, referring to Fig. 4, that the table has an opening 67, throughwhich the sucker heads may pass to the magazine. As the sucker headsmove up to engage a coupon, and move down with the coupon, the slide isin its extreme retracted position, so that no impediment is offered tothe movement of the sucker heads. a

As the sucker heads move down and to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, thecoupon is cleposited upon the part 65 of the slide. The finger 52 hasbeen lifted by mechanism to be described, and as soon as the coupon isin place, the finger is permitted to move downward under the influenceof the spring, and grasps the end of the coupon, as shown in Fig. 4. Theslide then moves rearwardly to bring the coupon into the position ofFig. 4,

that is, with its free end adjacent the stop 12. The exhaust through thesucker heads is operative while the slide is moving,

The lifting mechanism referred to is constituted by a pin 68, which isslidably mounted in guides 69 on a bracket 70 detachably connected withthe frame. The lower end of the pin rests upon one end of an arm 71pivoted at 72, to the bracket 70, and the arm has a roller 73 runningupon the edge of a cam 74 secured to the shaft 42. The

pin is normally pressed downward by a spring 7 5 arranged between theuppermost bearing 69, and a stop 7 6 on the pin.

The movement of the pin is synchronized with the operationof the slide,so that as the slide moves into extreme retracted position,

the pin will be moved upward, lifting the free end of finger 52. At thismoment the coupon is laid upon the table, with its forward end above thesurface 65. The pin immediately moves downward, and the coupon isclamped to the slide. The slide then moves toward the stop 12.

lVhen the coupon is in this position, that is, in the position of Fig.4, a cigar is laid upon the coupon by the operator, the cigar I...

and the coupon being beneath the plunger 6. The operator pushes the tuckend of the cigar against the stop, and trips the banding mechanism,which immediately places a band about the cigar by placing the center ofthe band on the cigar, bending down the ends of the band, and tuckingthem beneath the cigar and coupon, as indicated in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9.The position of the coupon just prior to its engagement by the finger 52is shown in Fig.

5, the finger being at this time lifted, and the feeding mechanism justpassing down through the opening 66.

The operation of the device as a Whole is as follows. The cigars to bebanded are laid at the left of the operator, as shown in Fig. 2. As themachine operates, the at tachment is operated due to the fact that theshaft 36 forming an integral part of the banding machine also operatesthe cams of the attachment. The slide 53, if not already in retractedposition, is retracted, the sucker heads move to the right of Fig. 2,and upwardly to engage the lowermost coupon and magazine. At this momentthey are connected with the exhausting apparatus, and move downward witha coupon, and to the left of Figs. 1 and The sucker heads then moveupward with the coupon. One end thereof is clamped to the slide by thefinger, and the feeding mechanism moves out of the way of the slide,which then moves rearwardly to position the coupon adjacent to the trip12. The operator now lays a cigar on the coupon, and moves it slightlylongitudinally, to engage the tuck end thereof with the trip 12. Thebanding mechanism is operated to band the cigar and coupon, and thecompleted article is moved to the right away from the banding mechanism.

It will be noticed referring to Fig. 4, that the cigar at no timeengages the end of the folded coupon, while the operator is sliding ittoward the trip. Instead the cigar engages the middle portion of thecoupon, on an in clined surface, so that there is no possibility ofinjury to the wrapper by the coupon. lhe engagement of the element withthe cigar on the table provides suliicient pressure to draw the couponfrom beneath the clamping finger, which holds the coupon with slidepressure. It is not necessary to lift the finger to release the coupon,as it is pulled out from beneath the finger by the retraction of theslide.

What is claimed as new is 1. In combina ion with a banding machinehaving banding mechanism including a plunger and a stop for initiatingthe operation of the banding mechanism adapted to be engaged andoperated by the end of'the cigar, an attachment including means to placea folded coupon beneath the plunger in position for cigar to restthereon when engaged with the stop.

2. In combination with a bandingmachine having banding mechanismincluding a plunger and a stop for initiating the operation of thebanding mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by the end of thecigar, an attachment including means to place a folded coupon beneaththe plunger in position for a cigar to rest thereon when engaged withthe stop, and means for holding the coupon against displacement duringthe placing of the cigar, said means engaging the endof the couponremote from the stop.

folded coupon beneath the plunger in position for a cigar to restthereon when engaged with the stop, and means for holding the end of thecoupon remote from the trip against movement with the cigar when pushedagainst the stop, and below the level of the cigar, thereby to preventinjury to the cigar wrapper. i v

4. In combination with a banding machine having banding mechanismincluding a plunger and a stop for initiating the operation of thebanding mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by the end of thecigar, an attachment including means to place a folded coupon beneaththe plunger in position for a cigar to rest thereon when engaged withthe stop, said attachment being releasably connected with the bandingmachine. 7

5. In combination with a banding machine having banding mechanismincluding a plunger and a stop for initiating the operation of thebanding mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by the end of thecigar, an attachmentincluding means to place a folded coupon beneath theplunger in position for a cigar to rest thereon when engaged with thestop, the placing means including a magazine, and a feeding devicemovable toward and from the plunger and the magazine respectively, andmovable between the plunger and the magazine.

' 6. In combination with a banding machine having a table and handingmechanism above the table, said mechanism including a plunger,and a stopfor engagement by a cigar when in banding position to initiate theoperation of said mechanism, and attachment including means to place afolded coupon beneath the plunger in position for a cigar to restthereon when engaged by the stop, and means to re siliently clamp thecoupon to the table.

7 In combination with a banding machine having a table and bandingmechanism above. the table, said mechanism including a plunger, andastop for engagement .by a cigar when in banding position to initiate theoperation of said mechanism, an attachment including means to place afolded coupon beneath the plunger in position for a cigar to restthereon when engaged by the stop, and means to resiliently clamp thecoupon to the table, said clamping means engaging the coupon end remotefrom the stop.

8. In combination with a banding machine having a table and bandingmechanism above the table, saidmechanism includinga plunger, and a stopfor engagement by a cigar when in banding position to initiate theoperation of said mechanism, an attach: ment including means to place afolded coupon beneath the plunger in position for a cigar to restthereon when engaged by the stop, and means to resiliently clamp the endof the coupon remote from the stop and to hold said end below the levelof the table.

9. In combination with a banding machine having a table and bandingmechanism above the table, said mechanism including a plunger, and astop for engagement by a cigar when in banding position to initiate theoperation of said mechanism, an attachment including means to place afolded coupon beneath the plunger in position for a cigar to restthereon when engaged by the stop, and means to resiliently clamp the endof the. coupon remote from the stop and to hold said end below the levelof the table,

i which the finger cooperates and a spring for pressing the fingertoward the surface.

10. In combination with a banding inachine having a table and bandingmechanism above the table, said mechanism including a plunger, and astop for engagement by a cigar when in banding position to initiate theoperation of said mechanism, an attachment including means to place afolded coupon beneath the plunger in position for a cigar to restthereon when engaged by the stop, a slide movable toward and from thestop, and having means to engage and hold the end of the coupon remotefrom the stop, and means to move the slide in synchronism with theoperation of the coupon placing means. I

11. In combination with a banding machine having a table and bandingmechanism above the. table, said mechanism including a plunger, and astop for engagement by a cigar when in bandingposition to initiate theoperation of said mechanism, an attachment including means to place afolded coupon beneath the plunger in position for a cigar to restthereon when engaged by the stop, a slide movable toward and from thestop, and having means to resiliently engage and hold the end of thecouponremote'from the stop below the level of the table, and means tomove the slide in synchronism with the operation of the coupon placingmeans.

7 12. In combination with a banding machine having a table and bandingmechanism above the table, said mechanism including a plunger, and astop for engagement by acigar when in banding position to initiate theoperation of said mechanism, an attachmentincluding means to place afolded coupon beneath the plunger in position for a stop, a slidemovable toward and from the stop,- and having means to resilientlyengage and hold the end of-the coupon remote from the stop below thelevel of the table, and

means to move the slide in synchronism with the operation of the couponplacing means,

the coupon engaging means including a fin-' .ger resiliently pressedtoward the slide, and

cigar end to initiate the operation of the V banding mechanlsm, means toplace-a coupon in position in front of the stop for a cigarto be laidthereon prior to its engagement with the stop. i

14. A' cigarbandingi and coupon attaching machine and in combinationcigar banding mechanism, and a stop for engagement by a cigar end toinitiate the operation of the banding mechanism, means to place a couponin position in front of the stop for acigar to be laid thereon prior toits engagement with the stop, and means to lightly grasp and hold theend of the coupon remotefrom'the stop below the level of the cigar whenit is pushed toward the stop.

15. In mechanism ofthe class described, I

banding mechanism, means to place afolded coupon in position in front ofthe stop fora cigar to be laid thereon prior to its engagement with thestop, and means to lightly grasp and hold the end of the coupon remotefrom the stop below the level of the cigar when it is pushed toward thestop, said means comprising a slide movable toward and from the stop,means for operating the slide in synchronism with the banding mechanism,alnal a finger resiliently pressed toward the s 1 e.

16. In mechanism of the class described,

including a machine having cigar banding mechanism, and a stop forengagement by a cigar end to initiate the operation of the bandingmechanism, means to place a folded coupon in position in front of thestop for y when it is pushed toward the stop, said means 7 comprising aslide movable toward and from the stop, means for operating the slide insynchronism with the banding mechanism,

and a finger resiliently pressed toward the slide, and means operated bythe banding machine for lifting the finger at the end of the movement ofthe slide away from the sto i 1%. In a cigar banding and couponattaching machine and in combination, a support for a cigar, mechanismfor wrapping a band around a cigar on said support, mechanism fordelivering a coupon to said support in a position lengthwise of thecigar to be Wrapped to the cigar beneath the band, means for holdingeach coupon in said position on the support, and means for operatingsaid coupon delivering mechanism and coupon holding means and forsynchronizing the operation of said mechanisms so that a coupon isdelivered to said holding means in said position just prior to theoperation of the banding mechanism.

18. In a cigar banding and coupon attaching machine and in combination,a support for a cigar to be banded, means for delivering and positioninga coupon at the support longitudinally of a cigar to be banded on saidsupport, and banding mechanism in proximity to the support and operableto apply a band around said cigar and coupon at said support.

19; In a cigar banding and coupon attaching machine and in combination,a support for a cigar to be banded, means for delivering a coupon at thesupport longitudinally of the cigar to be banded on the support, meansfor holding said coupon in said position, and banding mechanism inproximity to the support and operable to apply a band around said cigarand coupon at said support.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this25th day of November A. D. 1929.

BERNARD R. SCHNEIDER. KARL KAISER.

